Gasche leaving Adrian recreation job

Adrian Parks and Recreation Director Mark Gasche has accepted a position with the Pittsfield Township Recreation Department, according to the city of Adrian’s Facebook page.

Adrian City Administrator Dane Nelson said during an Adrian City Commission study session Monday that Gasche would resign April 15.

Gasche’s departure comes as the city prepares to turn over operation of its recreation programs to the YMCA of Lenawee County.

The city plans to fund its recreation department through the first two months of the upcoming fiscal year — July and August — and to use those months as a transition period for the “Y” to take over the programs.

Initially, Gasche and three other recreation department employees had been slated to lose their jobs July 1 as the city eliminated its recreation department to close an approximately $370,000 budget gap.

The latest plan is to share one employee with the “Y” to manage the city’s recreation facilities, which the “Y” will use to run the programs.

Gasche was on vacation and could not be reached for comment Monday night.

According to the city’s 2012-13 budget, Gasche’s salary this year is $88,715.

The city also plans to spend money from its reserve fund to keep Bohn Pool open this summer, and to spend money from the Swigert estate to help keep the Piotter Center open in the coming year. The Piotter Center houses the Lenawee County Department on Aging’s Adrian senior center.

The total cost of keeping the pool open this summer and funding the recreation department for July and August will be about $155,000, Nelson said.

Maintenance of Adrian’s parks will continue and will not be affected by elimination of the recreation department.